Assisted Living Placement

Assisted living (AL) is defined by Medicare as “a general term for living arrangements in which some services are available to residents who still live independently within the assisted living complex” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d., “Nursing Homes”). In this regard, assisted living refers to a type of residential [Page 86]environment as well as the specific services received by the client. Assisted living is sometimes marketed as an alternative to nursing homes, but it is more widely recognized as a residential option that bridges home care with the intensive, skilled care provided in a nursing facility. Examples of services provided in a typical AL include a range of instrumental activities of daily living assistance, such as housekeeping, medication reminders or management, laundry, ...